Community Mental Health Practitioner

Livewell Southwest

The closing date is 07 February 2025

Apply for this job

Job summary

Up to 37.5 hours per week. Plymouth Home Treatment team are seeking a registered mental health practitioner.

We will particularly welcome applications from people with older adult experience (including dementia), acute mental health experience, or from other health sectors where transferable skills can be demonstrated.

The postholder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team taking referrals, conducting biopsychosocial assessments and providing treatment interventions for patients 18 and over who are experiencing mental health crisis. This includes managing and administering medication and ensuring physical checks are routinely conducted. Good risk assessment and formulation are both vital. Some autonomous working may be required at times. High quality communication skills are essential. Home Treatment has been established in Plymouth for over 20 years and is a 24/7 service. The purpose is both to prevent unnecessary admissions and facilitate early or prompt discharges from Livewell's inpatient functional wards.

We are now looking to recruit an exceptional mental health practitioner (from any eligible professional background) to join our growing team. We are very interested in hearing from you if you have a commitment to supporting people to remain at home during their illness along with a positive can-do attitude.

Main duties of the job

  • Typically 3 twelve hour shifts per week with an occasional shorter shift to make up hours. However different working patterns and flexi-working arrangements are available. Please contact us and chat about it.
  • To receive and triage referrals for those presenting in a mental health crisis
  • To be part of a multi-disciplinary team approach responding to individuals requiring a same day response or signposting due to a mental health crisis
  • To provide skilled telephone advice to referrers and patients and carers
  • To provide skilled telephone-based support to help contain a crisis and avoid further escalation of an issue
  • To offer an urgent mental health assessment in a location most convenient/appropriate for the patient; this may be in their home, GP surgery or Emergency Department.
  • Identify the most appropriate intervention required for patient, with an emphasis on positive risk management, and refer as necessary.
  • This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.
  • Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
  • All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Date posted

07 January 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year pa,pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

B9832-2025-NM-9579-3

Job locations

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 7PY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication and Relationship skills

    a) Detailed confident verbal information sharing, within the Home Treatment Team or the wider Multi Disciplinary Team, which includes Primary Care.

    b) Expert ability in receiving information, analysing and formulating professional judgments.

    c) Attend and represent the Teams view in meetings e.g. Child protection, Adult Protection, Mental Health Review Tribunals, CPA Reviews.

    d) Elicit information from the patient, and work with them to advocate on their behalf.

    e) Ability to communicate clearly and effectively over the telephone within the boundaries of confidentiality.

    f) Maintain accurate, timely paper and electronic records. Ensure they are kept safely in accordance with Livewell SW policies, including the Data Protection Act and the Livewell SW Confidentiality Policy.

    g) The post holder demonstrates a positive attitude to mental health attending to patients with respect and courtesy. Having the ability to challenge staff where the standard falls below expectations.

    h) The post holder will ensure that professional boundaries are always adhered to.

    i) Take a lead role in the collaboration and the planning of individual care with patient, carer, other Teams and Services.

    j) Must be confident in communicating with people who are experiencing mental health difficulties when English is not their first language using Livewell South west approved interpreters.

    Knowledge, Training and Experience

    a) The post holder will be responsible for updating their own practice, knowledge and skills within their sphere of practice including Livewell SW PCH mandatory training.

    b) Knowledge of Policy and legislation.

    c) Knowledge of Mental Health and Mental Health service delivery.

    d) Adhere to Policy and Legislation relating to Mental Health e.g. Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Equal Opportunity Law, Disability Discrimination Act, Human Rights Act, Care Programme Approach and Clinical Governance.

    Analytical and Judgement Skills

    a) Map reading planning the safest most cost-effective route for community visits.

    b) The post holder will provide nursing care and other interventions in the setting most appropriate to meet the patients needs.

    c) Ability to match patient need with available skills and resources.

    d) Emergency judgments and clinical decision-making.

    Planning and Organisational Skills

    a) To take a lead role in the co-ordination of shift ensuring appropriate allocation of work with the available skill mix utilising, prioritising, negotiation and delegation skills.

    b) Take a clinical lead in absence of HTT managers

    c) Regularly take a lead in clinical meeting ensuring all patients are reviewed and decisions and plans are put into action and represent the patients views.

    d) Liaise with other services to arrange appointments that both meet patient and service demands.

    1. Physical Skills

    a) Confidence to travel in an urban environment

    b) Administer Intra Muscular Injections

    c) Competent key board skills

    d) Ability to take accurate physical observations i.e. blood pressure, pulse and temperature.

    e) Demonstrates safe clinical skills when providing care for patients receiving specialist treatments e.g. commencement of Clozaril in the community or supporting a patient through ECT treatment.

    Responsibilities

    a) Take a lead in rapid crisis assessments and the continuous assessment of patients on the caseload, monitoring effectiveness of the treatments provided.

    b) Formulate care plans, implement and evaluate them along side patients and carers ensuring informed consent is obtained.

    c) Plan aftercare, making appropriate agreed referrals for longer-term treatment.

    d) Collaborate with other Teams and Services in the provision of patient care.

    e) Take a lead role in the identification of risk and the formulation of risk management plans.

    f) Take a lead role in clinical decision-making, including maintaining the safety of patients, staff and the public in challenging, potentially violent situations.

    g) Adhere to the Policy for the Safe, Secure and Handling of Medicines and local Home Treatment protocols ensuring patients receive medication in a safe and timely fashion.

    h) Assess and monitor the effect of medication and report observations to Medical staff.

    i) Provide education to patients and carers to enhance their knowledge therefore improving longer-term concordance.

    j) Promote RECOVERY

    k) Provide education to patients and carers in line with current policy and good practice guidelines.

    l) The post holder will be required to work over a 24 hour period. To adhere to the Home Treatment Policy and protocols for the implementation of this service.

    m) Maintain high standards of clinical care to patients.

    Responsibility for Policy and Service Development

    a) Expected to take a lead role in the development of the Home Treatment Team including the formulation of protocols.

    b) Implement all appropriate National, PCH and Local Home Treatment policies and protocols.

    Responsibility for Human Resources

    a) Provide clinical supervision and line management supervision for junior members of staff.

    b) Have the ability to challenge staff where the standard falls below expectations. Have the ability to foster capability and support staff to develop

    c) Assist in education programmes provided for junior staff.

    d) Provide mentorship for students both formally and informally.

    e) Participate regularly in recruitment and selection of staff.

    f) The post holder will behave in a manner that does not bring the Team or Livewell SW into disrepute.

    1. Responsibility for Information Resources

    a) Responsible for recording CPA and monitoring the quality of data provided by junior staff.

    b) Responsible for electronic contacts and monitor the standard of work of junior staff.

    c) Maintain accurate, timely paper and electronic records. Ensure they are kept safely in accordance with Livewell SW policy

    Responsibility for Research and Development

    a) Provide a positive role in clinical audit and evaluation of Home Treatment to ensure high levels of clinical effectiveness

    Freedom to Act

    a) The post holder will be individually accountable for their practice in accordance with the NMC professional Code of Conduct or Health and Care Professions Council.

    b) The post holder will actively participate in line management supervision with the Team Manager of the Team.

    c) Provide line management for junior staff.

    d) The post holder will actively participate in clinical supervision in accordance with Livewell SW policy.

    e) The post holder will actively participate in the Livewell SW appraisal system and provide appraisals for junior staff.

    f) The post holder will carry out other duties commensurate with the position as required.

    Please see attachments.

    Job description

    Job responsibilities

    Communication and Relationship skills

      a) Detailed confident verbal information sharing, within the Home Treatment Team or the wider Multi Disciplinary Team, which includes Primary Care.

      b) Expert ability in receiving information, analysing and formulating professional judgments.

      c) Attend and represent the Teams view in meetings e.g. Child protection, Adult Protection, Mental Health Review Tribunals, CPA Reviews.

      d) Elicit information from the patient, and work with them to advocate on their behalf.

      e) Ability to communicate clearly and effectively over the telephone within the boundaries of confidentiality.

      f) Maintain accurate, timely paper and electronic records. Ensure they are kept safely in accordance with Livewell SW policies, including the Data Protection Act and the Livewell SW Confidentiality Policy.

      g) The post holder demonstrates a positive attitude to mental health attending to patients with respect and courtesy. Having the ability to challenge staff where the standard falls below expectations.

      h) The post holder will ensure that professional boundaries are always adhered to.

      i) Take a lead role in the collaboration and the planning of individual care with patient, carer, other Teams and Services.

      j) Must be confident in communicating with people who are experiencing mental health difficulties when English is not their first language using Livewell South west approved interpreters.

      Knowledge, Training and Experience

      a) The post holder will be responsible for updating their own practice, knowledge and skills within their sphere of practice including Livewell SW PCH mandatory training.

      b) Knowledge of Policy and legislation.

      c) Knowledge of Mental Health and Mental Health service delivery.

      d) Adhere to Policy and Legislation relating to Mental Health e.g. Mental Health Act 1983, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Equal Opportunity Law, Disability Discrimination Act, Human Rights Act, Care Programme Approach and Clinical Governance.

      Analytical and Judgement Skills

      a) Map reading planning the safest most cost-effective route for community visits.

      b) The post holder will provide nursing care and other interventions in the setting most appropriate to meet the patients needs.

      c) Ability to match patient need with available skills and resources.

      d) Emergency judgments and clinical decision-making.

      Planning and Organisational Skills

      a) To take a lead role in the co-ordination of shift ensuring appropriate allocation of work with the available skill mix utilising, prioritising, negotiation and delegation skills.

      b) Take a clinical lead in absence of HTT managers

      c) Regularly take a lead in clinical meeting ensuring all patients are reviewed and decisions and plans are put into action and represent the patients views.

      d) Liaise with other services to arrange appointments that both meet patient and service demands.

      1. Physical Skills

      a) Confidence to travel in an urban environment

      b) Administer Intra Muscular Injections

      c) Competent key board skills

      d) Ability to take accurate physical observations i.e. blood pressure, pulse and temperature.

      e) Demonstrates safe clinical skills when providing care for patients receiving specialist treatments e.g. commencement of Clozaril in the community or supporting a patient through ECT treatment.

      Responsibilities

      a) Take a lead in rapid crisis assessments and the continuous assessment of patients on the caseload, monitoring effectiveness of the treatments provided.

      b) Formulate care plans, implement and evaluate them along side patients and carers ensuring informed consent is obtained.

      c) Plan aftercare, making appropriate agreed referrals for longer-term treatment.

      d) Collaborate with other Teams and Services in the provision of patient care.

      e) Take a lead role in the identification of risk and the formulation of risk management plans.

      f) Take a lead role in clinical decision-making, including maintaining the safety of patients, staff and the public in challenging, potentially violent situations.

      g) Adhere to the Policy for the Safe, Secure and Handling of Medicines and local Home Treatment protocols ensuring patients receive medication in a safe and timely fashion.

      h) Assess and monitor the effect of medication and report observations to Medical staff.

      i) Provide education to patients and carers to enhance their knowledge therefore improving longer-term concordance.

      j) Promote RECOVERY

      k) Provide education to patients and carers in line with current policy and good practice guidelines.

      l) The post holder will be required to work over a 24 hour period. To adhere to the Home Treatment Policy and protocols for the implementation of this service.

      m) Maintain high standards of clinical care to patients.

      Responsibility for Policy and Service Development

      a) Expected to take a lead role in the development of the Home Treatment Team including the formulation of protocols.

      b) Implement all appropriate National, PCH and Local Home Treatment policies and protocols.

      Responsibility for Human Resources

      a) Provide clinical supervision and line management supervision for junior members of staff.

      b) Have the ability to challenge staff where the standard falls below expectations. Have the ability to foster capability and support staff to develop

      c) Assist in education programmes provided for junior staff.

      d) Provide mentorship for students both formally and informally.

      e) Participate regularly in recruitment and selection of staff.

      f) The post holder will behave in a manner that does not bring the Team or Livewell SW into disrepute.

      1. Responsibility for Information Resources

      a) Responsible for recording CPA and monitoring the quality of data provided by junior staff.

      b) Responsible for electronic contacts and monitor the standard of work of junior staff.

      c) Maintain accurate, timely paper and electronic records. Ensure they are kept safely in accordance with Livewell SW policy

      Responsibility for Research and Development

      a) Provide a positive role in clinical audit and evaluation of Home Treatment to ensure high levels of clinical effectiveness

      Freedom to Act

      a) The post holder will be individually accountable for their practice in accordance with the NMC professional Code of Conduct or Health and Care Professions Council.

      b) The post holder will actively participate in line management supervision with the Team Manager of the Team.

      c) Provide line management for junior staff.

      d) The post holder will actively participate in clinical supervision in accordance with Livewell SW policy.

      e) The post holder will actively participate in the Livewell SW appraisal system and provide appraisals for junior staff.

      f) The post holder will carry out other duties commensurate with the position as required.

      Please see attachments.

      Person Specification

      Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

      Essential

      • Mental Health Act Mental Capacity Act CPA Clinical Risk Assessment Safeguarding Adults and Children Clinical Governance Psychological models of care and treatment Microsoft Outlook SystmOne, Care First or other electronic records system eCPA Relevant Livewell Southwest policies and proceduresAbility to prioritise workload Robust and positive approach towards risk assessment Ability to work effectively under pressure Ability to identify and refer on for unmet need Working effectively with patients who may have a variety of communication difficulties Triaging referrals based on clinical urgency Work flexibly in order to respond to service need Positive attitude to change Positive attitude to working within a complex mental health environment Committed to developing and improving mental health services

      Desirable

      • Knowledge of common physical health issues that may affect people with a severe and enduring mental health problem Knowledge of clinical clustering tools

      Qualifications

      Essential

      • Essential criteria
      • RMN/Dip HE/BSc Mental Health Nursing NMC Registration RGN/Dip HE/BSc Registered Nurse NMC Registration Occupational Therapy Degree HCPC Registration Social Work Degree HCPC Registration Paramedic Science Degree/BSc/Dip HE HCPC Registration Fully Competent Clinical Supervision training Evidence of completion of statutory and mandatory training Mentorship qualification

      Desirable

      • Non-medical Prescribing Phlebotomy qualification

      Experience

      Essential

      • Significant post-registration experience of working with people with complex mental ill health within the community, including those who may abuse drugs and/or alcohol Significant experience as a care coordinator/ or Home Treatment/Crisis worker Experience of working collaboratively with patients and their families/carers Previous experience of working at a Band 6 level or 2 years post registration experience in acute mental health Completing complex mental health assessments in a variety of different settings in the community and signposting to relevant services Relapse prevention and Recovery Principles Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentoring, and teaching to students and other health professionals

      Desirable

      • Experience of working in an acute inpatient unit Experience of working with people with an offending background Experience of conducting basic physical health screening Staff appraisal skills
      Person Specification

      Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

      Essential

      • Mental Health Act Mental Capacity Act CPA Clinical Risk Assessment Safeguarding Adults and Children Clinical Governance Psychological models of care and treatment Microsoft Outlook SystmOne, Care First or other electronic records system eCPA Relevant Livewell Southwest policies and proceduresAbility to prioritise workload Robust and positive approach towards risk assessment Ability to work effectively under pressure Ability to identify and refer on for unmet need Working effectively with patients who may have a variety of communication difficulties Triaging referrals based on clinical urgency Work flexibly in order to respond to service need Positive attitude to change Positive attitude to working within a complex mental health environment Committed to developing and improving mental health services

      Desirable

      • Knowledge of common physical health issues that may affect people with a severe and enduring mental health problem Knowledge of clinical clustering tools

      Qualifications

      Essential

      • Essential criteria
      • RMN/Dip HE/BSc Mental Health Nursing NMC Registration RGN/Dip HE/BSc Registered Nurse NMC Registration Occupational Therapy Degree HCPC Registration Social Work Degree HCPC Registration Paramedic Science Degree/BSc/Dip HE HCPC Registration Fully Competent Clinical Supervision training Evidence of completion of statutory and mandatory training Mentorship qualification

      Desirable

      • Non-medical Prescribing Phlebotomy qualification

      Experience

      Essential

      • Significant post-registration experience of working with people with complex mental ill health within the community, including those who may abuse drugs and/or alcohol Significant experience as a care coordinator/ or Home Treatment/Crisis worker Experience of working collaboratively with patients and their families/carers Previous experience of working at a Band 6 level or 2 years post registration experience in acute mental health Completing complex mental health assessments in a variety of different settings in the community and signposting to relevant services Relapse prevention and Recovery Principles Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentoring, and teaching to students and other health professionals

      Desirable

      • Experience of working in an acute inpatient unit Experience of working with people with an offending background Experience of conducting basic physical health screening Staff appraisal skills

      Disclosure and Barring Service Check

      This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

      Certificate of Sponsorship

      Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

      From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

      UK Registration

      Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

      Additional information

      Disclosure and Barring Service Check

      This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

      Certificate of Sponsorship

      Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

      From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

      UK Registration

      Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

      Employer details

      Employer name

      Livewell Southwest

      Address

      200 Mount Gould Road

      Mount Gould

      Plymouth

      Devon

      PL4 7PY


      Employer's website

      https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

      Employer details

      Employer name

      Livewell Southwest

      Address

      200 Mount Gould Road

      Mount Gould

      Plymouth

      Devon

      PL4 7PY


      Employer's website

      https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

      For questions about the job, contact:

      Home Treatment Team Manager

      Richard Kua

      Richard.kua@nhs.net

      07591800387

      Date posted

      07 January 2025

      Pay scheme

      Agenda for change

      Band

      Band 6

      Salary

      £37,338 to £44,962 a year pa,pro-rata

      Contract

      Permanent

      Working pattern

      Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

      Reference number

      B9832-2025-NM-9579-3

      Job locations

      200 Mount Gould Road

      Mount Gould

      Plymouth

      Devon

      PL4 7PY


      Supporting documents

      Privacy notice

      Livewell Southwest's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)